Stoker construction



April 30, 1940. E. A. TURNER STOKER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Feb. 17, 1934 INVENTOR.

April 30, 1940. E. A. TURNER STOKER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Feb. 17,934

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCR.

April 30, 1940. TURNER 2,198,71U

STOKER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Feb. 17, 1954 4 Shets-Sheet sv11/11114 willy/l,

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. A. TURNER STOKER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Feb.17, 1954 v April 30, 1940.

INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 30, 1940 j STOKER CONSTRUCTION Edwin Archer Turner, NewYork, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Standard StokerCompany, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application 12Claims.

My invention relates to stokers of the type which feed through anopening in an upright wall of a furnace and more particularlyto certainimprovements in the construction of stokers for ino stallationtoexisting locomotives in which the backhead of the firebox is providedwith a firing opening of conventional form and size.

With the various types of stokers manufactured for installation onlocomotives, it has been the experiencethat those which feed through thefiring opening in the backhead of the locomotive possess many attributesof simplicity and economy of operation not found in many of the othertypes. Hence, the stokers of the general type described have foundconsiderable favor with the railroads. However, there is one deterrentto the widespread installation of such stokers on existing locomotives,andthat is the cost of enlarging the firing opening so that the stokermay feed through the lower half thereof while the upper half is used asan inspection or hand firing opening. When the firing opening isenlarged, either a portion of or an entire backheadfis replaced ,by anew structure containing this en- 25 larged opening, This is a costlyand a time consuming task, and the expense entailed in making thischange must be charged to the ultimate cost of the stoker.

This deterrent is obviated by the present in vention which has for itsmain object the provision of an improved stoker of the class describedadapted to feed through the conventional size of firing opening. Itfollows, of course, that the stoker may be utilized also with the largeropenings.

Another and more specific object of this invention is to provide animproved stoker, as con templated by the main object of the invention,characterized by a compact, simplified and novel a) construction of thestoker discharge conduit and theassociated parts of the distributorapparatus whereby such parts occupy a minimum of space in the firingopening and afford free access into the firebox. A further object ofthis invention resides in the provision, in a stoker of the abovedescribed character, of a novel relation between the pressure fluid jethead, the distributing table and the stoker discharge conduit; thepressure fluid head being rigidly but detachably secured to thedischarge "conduit, while the distributing table is interlocked with theconduit by a lug and groove connection permitting quick removal of thetable from the firing opening whenever it is necessary February 1'7,1934, Serial No. 711,642 Renewed April 8, 1938 for a workman to enterthe firebox or for other reasons. 1

Other objects and advantages reside in the novel construction of theindividual parts and in their relations one with another whereby astoker is produced which may be installed on existing types oflocomotives without changing the backhead or disturbing the accessoriesmounted thereon.

In the drawings accompanying the specification,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rearward portion of alocomotive showing the invention in similar section with some portionsin elevation and others broken away to illustrate the structure;

Figure 2 is a plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View as seen from the interior of the firebox in Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows 3.-3;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure lshowing one modification of myinvention;

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figure 4 of a portionof the modification illustrated in Figure 5; 1

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 5 showing anothermodification of the invention; 1

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figures 4 and 7 of aportion of the modification illustrated in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing 1 another modificationof this invention.

Referring now to the preferred form of my invention illustrated inFigures 1 to 4, inclusive, l0 represents a locomotive, H the boilerthereof, and I2 the hollow backhead including the outer sheet l3 and theinner sheet I l. At a suitable distance above the cab deck 15 and thegrates I6 of the firebox ll; the inner and outer sheets are flangedinwardly toward each other to form the conventional firing opening l8.This firing opening I8 is usually elliptical in shape and measuresapproximately sixteen (16) inches in height and twenty (20) inches inwidth, thereby affording free entry into the firebox. It is, of course,understood that in some instances these dimensions will vary.

The outersheet l3 of the boiler is'covered by lagging l9 whichis usuallycomposed of magnesia and asbestos applied in sections or in plastic wall39.

form. The lagging I9 prevents the loss of heat in the boiler throughradiation. A jacket of planished sheet iron fits over the lagging andforms a protecting cover therefor. It will be observed from' Figures 1and 2 that the lagging l9 and the jacket 20 terminate somewhat short ofthe outermarginal edge defining "the firing opening l8, leaving aportion of the outer sheet l3 adjacent the firing opening uncovered.

A fuel feed device for transferring fuel ream the tender to thelocomotive is shownrgenerally as S and comprises a stoker riser ordischarge conduit 2| on the locomotive andthe troughh'onduit 22 leadingforwardly fromrthe tenderinot shown) and delivering tothe"dischargeconduit 2| at a point below the cab deck 55, A universaljoint connection 22a provides for-the flexibility necessary between theconduits 2| and 22 when the locomotive and tender are rounding curves orcrossing switches and turntables.

The construction ofthe discharge-:oonduit-Zl is novel and will now bedescribed in detail. 'It

comprises the casing 23 and the feedtube 32,

ing l8. A firedoor is supported from the casing 23 and forms a movableclosure for the aperture 29. The firedoor illustrated is of the wellknown Franklin butterfly type having a motor M and a hand lever 3|whereby the firedoor may :be operated manually or by power means. Itwill be observed from Figure 1 that the uppermost edge of the arcuatetop wall 26 is placedclose to the backhead l2 and ass.

consequence the firedoor operating mechanism does not extend outwardlyfrom the backhead a distance which would interfere with hand firing,inspection of fire conditions or--entry into the firebox.

As the sidewalls 21 extend downwardly their outer marginal edges whichare in the same inclined plane extend outwardly from-the backhead agreater distanceprogressively until at the lowermost point representedby-the edge 32a,

this point is spaced from the backhead'a horizontal distance which isapproximately twice the horizontal distance from the uppermost edge ofthe upper wall 26 to the backhead. It will be observed the stoker feedtube 32slopesupwardly from beneaththe deck l5 at an angleapproximating45 degrees and opens upwardly into the casing 23. The walls of thelatter constitute con- 'tinuations of the tube 32 which is rigidlyattached to the casing by means of bolts 33 passing through the flanges34 and 35 of the casing and the tube, respectively. At its forward end,the tube 32 is securedto the backhead by means of bolts or studs 36passing through the flange 31,

which is similar to the flange 25 of the casing 23 and in alignmenttherewith. If desired the casing and the tube may be integrally formedbut for convenience of manufacture and assembly "it is preferred thatthey should be constructed separately as described to form the conduit 2I,

The upwardly opening portion of the tube 32 includes side walls 38 whichextend a slight distance into the firing opening l8 and curve towardeach other to form the bottom or forward It will be observed that thecentral from the jet head 4|.

tion 55 is provided with a passage such as 51 for vertically drilledholes counter-bored as at 46.

Studs 41 are screwed into the flanges 68 formed with the bottom orforward wall 39 and the jet head-4| is seated on each flange so that theholes 45 thereof engage the studs 41. These flanges 48 do not extendacross the width of the recess 40 but are formed only beneath eachcounter-bored portion 45. In this manner, the flow of coolingaircurrents beneath the jet head 4| is not restricted. Nuts 49 areutilized to firmly engage each stud, thereby securely, but detachably,holding the jet member in the recess. For convenience of assembly, therearward end of the jet head 4| and the securing means therefon'liebetween the vertical planes passed through the upper and lower.extremities of theaperture 29.

In the preferredembodiment of my-inventicn illustrated in Figures 1 to4-.inclusive, a system of connected screws convey the fuel-from thetender to a point adjacent the firing opening. A screw 50 in the troughconduit 22 is flexibly connected to the screw 5| of the riser conduit 2|by a double universal joint 52 and this last named screwfil conveys thefuel along the bottomwall 39 and thence urges the same over the upperwall "53 of the jet head 4|.

The upper wall 53 0f the jet head has a lower portion 53: which forms anupward continuation of the bottom-wall 39, so that the fuel is urgedalong a smooth surface free of any irregularities, while the upperportion 53b of the jet head curves forwardly from the straight lower.portion and is disposedslightlyabove the lower marginal edge of thefiring opening but below the lowermost edge of the aperture in thecasing23. Preferably, the straight portion 531 is a tangent of thecurved portion-53b and'by this a construction, together withthe relationexisting between the bottom wall 39 and the-portion 53a, a free and easypassage for the fuel throughthe discharge conduit is provided.

As coal passes over the jet head 4|,it is subjected to a separation ofthe finer particles from the coarser particles and then. falls onto theupper surface 54 of the distributing table 55, from which it isprojected to all parts of the firebed, in a manner which is now to bedescribed.

Extending forwardly from the high pressure chamber or chambers 42 arethe finger like projections 56 which are spaced apart and radiate Eachfinger-like projecemitting a blast of pressure fluid over the uppersurface 54 of the table 55 and alsoover the low pressure blasts ofpressure fluid issuing from the orifices 58 of the low pressure chamberor chambers t3. Thus, the larger lumps of fuel roll over the projections56 while the finer particles sift through and fall in front'of thelow-pressure orifices. The low pressure blast will spread the finerparticles over the entire firebed, while the higher pressure blastsproject the larger lumps forwardly. Ofcourse, some of the larger lumpsof fuel will be acted upon by the "combined force of the high and lowpressure blasts while some of the intermediate lumps of fuel will beacted upon solely by the low pressure blasts. This,

delivers fuel onto the distributing table at a rents and also musttraverse a h 5 5 andiremoved from the damaging effects of the relativelyhigher point above the gratelevel than with stokers of formerconstruction, and hence thelfuel as it is projected from the table 55must pass through the more swiftly moving gas curgreater distance beforefalling on the grate.

So that the distributing table 55 may be easily renewed or removedforthe purpose of affording more space when entry into the firebox is made,

i i the curving side walls 38 ofthe discharge conduit are arrangedtodetachab ly support this member in a novel and advantageous manner.For this purpose, each side wall 38 at the forward end.

thereof is provided with an upwardly opening hook member 60 while thedistributing table 55 is provided with the upwardly extending flanges 6|which form extensions of the curving side walls andhave formed thereinthe downwardly opening hook members 62 for engaging the hook members 60.Since the detachableconnection means between the table 55 and thedischarge conduit is a substantial distance above the table heat in thefirebox removal of the table will be facilitated and its life prolonged.

. Whenever access into the firebox is to be made,

pressure fluid is admitted into the chamber 63 at therear wall 64 of thedischarge conduit and emitted through the forwardly directed passages65, thereby removing anycoal which remains in the open mouth of thisconduit. Thisremaining coal can also be pushed forwardly by manualmeans, thereby obviating the use of the blast chamber 63. The firedoor30 is then opened preferably by hand and if the table extends into thefirebox a distance which makes entry thereinto inconvenient, it may beunho oked and removed. Should it be necessary to remove the jet head 4|,a socket wrench may 'be fitted into the counter-bored portions 46 and'the nut members 49 removed. The removal ofthe nut members 49 will notcause the jet head to fall fowardly into the firebox becausethestuds 41effectively engage the drilled holes 45. Itwill be observed from Figure.1 that the jet head 4! when in .position in the firing opening issubstantially below the lower marginal edge of the aperture 29 and isconstructed so that it curves forwardly and upwardly to a point in thefiring opening and then slopes downwardly. By such construction of thejet head, the upper surface thereof does not form a tunnel with theupper sheets of the firing opening, thereby. making possible freeraccess into the firebox. In certain instances, the i conduit, and a fueldistributing. table forward of said jet head, said fuel distributingtable deupper chambers 42 will not be necessary and only the lowerchamber 10, will be necessary.

This construction is shown in Figure 10 and it will be apparent that bythe use of only the lower chamber or chambers 10, agreater effectivefiring opening will be available for entry into the firebox. 1 i InFigures 5, 6 and 7, thefuel feed tube comprisingthe discharge conduit isin the form of a forwardly and upwardly curving conduit member 1 I whilethe trough screw 12 terminates somewhat short of the forward wall 13thereof and forces the fuel forwardly and upwardly over the jet head 4|and onto the, distributing table 55.

Otherwise, the construction of this modification is similar to thepreferred form illustrated; in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive.

Another modification of the invention is illustrated in Figures Sand 9,and in this construction a fuel feedtube 14 extends upwardly along theverticalmedial plane of the fire-box and substantially parallel thereto.This tube 74 terminates below the level of the firing opening l8 andfeeds upwardly into the lower extension l5 of the casing 76 whichembraces the firingopening.

A casing of this form can also be used in the first two forms of myinvention. .A trough screw ll in the conduit 18 feeds coal intotherearward extension 19 of the tube 14. Thistube houses" a screw 8|]which is driven from its lower means of gearing 8| in the gear case 82.Since the casing 16 is provided with the integral lower extension 15,the recess 83 for thejet head 4| is.

formedin the lower extension of the casing instead of in the feed tube.The upper end of the,

screw 80 terminates below the lowermost edge of the aperture 29 so thatit does not form an obstruction to hand firing or entry into the firebox.

From the foregoing description and illustrations of my invention it willbe realized by those familiar with the problems encountered in thepractical construction of locomotive stokers that many of theseproblemswhich exist are solved by the various novel features embodiedherein.

' It will also be understood that the features of one type of stoker canalso be used with stokers of other types, asdemonstrated herein. I de-.

fine my invention in the appfinded claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a locomotive firebox having a firing opening inthe backwall thereof, a fuel feeddevice delivering into said openingincluding a casing connected to said backwall and having topan d sidewalls partially surrounding the firing opening, the rearmarginal edgesof said top and sidewalls lyingin a common inclined plane and beingspaced? from said backwall todefine an aperture opposite said firingopening, the lowermost edge of said aperture be- Y ing spaced from saidbackwalla horizontal distance which is approximately twice thehorizontal distance from the uppermost edge of said aperture to saidbackwall, a movable closure carried by said casing for suchaperture, afuel feed tube extending upwardly toward and delivering into saidcasing.said tube and casing constituting a stoker discharge conduit, saidconduit having a forward wall terminating adjacent the lower marginaledge of said firing opening and short of the forward wall to form arecess adjacent the lower portion of said firing opening, aypressure.fiuid jet head received in the recess formed between the aforesaidforward and side walls of said .tachably engaging said conduit abovesaidjet including a casing connected to said backwall said backwall, andside walls. extending beyond &

' and having topand side twarllspartiallyl surroun ing the firingopening the'rear marginal edges of said top and 'si'de' walls lyingin a"common inclined plane andbein'g"spacedfrom said backwall to define anapertur'e opposite said'firing 'opening, the lowermost edge of saidaperture being spaced from said backwall a horizontal distancewhich isapproximately twice thehorizontal distance from the uppermost edgeofsaid aperture to said backwall, a movable closure carried by said casingfor-such aperture, a fuel feed tube extending upwardly towardsaid casingat an angle approximately 45*degrees from the horizontal and deliveringinto saidcasing, said tube and casing constituting a stoker dischargeconduit, said tubehaving' a? forward wall terminating adjacent the lowermarginal edge of said firing opening and short of said backwall, andside walls extending forwardly beyond said forward wall to form arecessacljacent the lower portion ofsaid firing opening, said side wallsextending upwardly abovethe lower marginal edge of said firing open-'ing'toform' continuations of the side walls of said casing, a pressurefiuid'jet head 'received in the recess formed between the aforesaidforward and side walls of said tube, a fuel distributing C table forwardof said jet head deta'chably engaging' the side walls of said tube abovesaid jet head, and a conveyor screw in said fuel'feed tube,

the forward end of said conveyor screw terminat ing adjacent therecessed portion of thet'ube and below the lowermost edge of theaperture in said casing; 1

-3."'In combination with a locomotive firebox having a firing openinginthe backwall thereof, a-fuel feed device delivering into said'openingincluding a casing connectedto said backwall and having top and sidewalls partially surrounding the firing opening, the rear marginal edgesof said top and side walls lying in a common inclined plane and'b'ei ngspaced from said'back:- wall to define an aperture opposite said'firingopening, the lowermost edge of said aperture being spaced from saidbackwall ahorizontal distance which is approximately twice thehorizontal distance from the uppermost edge of saidaperture to saidbackwall, a movable closure for such aperture, a conduit, member curvingforwardly and upwardly toward said casing and delivering thereinto abovethe lower marginal edge-of said firing opening, said conduit member andcasing constituting a stoker discharge conduit, said co-n-,

distributing table engaging the sidewalls of said conduit member abovesaid jet head.

4.- In combination with a locomotive firebox having a firing opening inthe backwall thereof,v

a fuel feed device delivering into said opening including a casingconnected to said backwall and having top and side walls partiallysurrounding the firing opening, the rear marginal edges of said top andside walls lying in a common plane and being spaced from said backwall'to define an aperture opposite said firing opening, the lowermost edgeof said aperture being spaced rrom: said backwallsai horizontaldistance": which --isr approximately twice the horizontal distance fromthe uppermostedge 'of said aperture to said :bachwall, a mov'able"closure for such aperture, saidlcas'inglhaving'a lowerextensionterminating T :belowthelower marginal edge of said firing open-:ing,':said extension having a forward wall terminating-adjacent thelower marginal edge of said ifiring openingi andwshort of saidbackwalhthe side walls of said casing extending forwardly beyond'saidforwa'rd wallya pressure fiuid jet head 'receivedlin the'recess formedbetween the aforesaid forward, and side walls of said casing, a fueldistributing tablej-forward'of said jet, said fuel distributing tabledetachably engaging the side walls of said casing above said jet head, afuel feed tubeco'nnected to the lower extension of said casing andextending along: said backwall substantially parallel thereto, and aconveyor screw in said tube, the upper end of said conveyor screwterminating below the lowermost edge of the aperture in said casing.

5.- in a locomotive'having a firebox with a firing opening in thebackwall thereof, the combination including a casing secured to saidback- I wall 'said: casing having a top wall extending rearwardly fromthe upper marginal edge of said firing openingand side walls extendingrear- Wardly from corresponding side marginal edges of such opening, afuel feed tube communicating with said casing, said'fuel feed tubeincluding a forward wall terminating adjacent the lower marginal edge ofsaid firing opening and a rear wall'spaced-above the upper edge of theforward ,wall, the rear marginal edges of the top and side walls of saidcasing lying in a common plane and forming withthe upper edge of thefeed tube rear wall a forwardly and upwardly inclined apertureoppositersaid firing opening, the forward wallaof said feed tubeterminating intermediate t, the transverse vertical planes passedthrough the uppermost and lowermost marginal edges of said aperture, thetransverse vertical plane passed I through the uppermost limit of saidaperture passing closely adjacent the rearward lower marv ginal edge ofsaid firing opening, the side walls of said tube forming 'continuationsof theside walls of said casing and extending beyond said forward wallto form'a recess, a pressure jet head seated in said recess forming acontinuation of the forward'wall of said tube, and means for detachablysecuring said jet head to said fuel feedtube, said means being disposedbetween the aforesaid vertical planes.

6. In a locomotive having a firebox with a firing'opening-"in thebackwall thereof, the combination including a casing secured to saidbackwall, said casing having a top wall extending rearwardly from theupperrnarginal edge of said firing opening and side walls extendingrearwardly from corresponding side'marginal edges of such opening, afuel feed tube communicating with said firing opening and deliveringinto said casing, said fuel feed tube including a forward wallterminating adjacent the lower marginal edge of said firing opening anda rear wall spaced above the upper edge of the forward wall, the

rear marginal edges' of the top and side walls of i said casing lyingin'a common plane and forming with the upper edge of the feed tube rearwall a forwardly and upwardly inclined aperture opposite said firingopening, the forward wall of said feed tube terminating intermediate thetransverse verticalplanes passed through the uppermost andlowermost-marginal edges of said aperture, thetransverse vertical'planepassed-through the up to formsa recess, ,apressure jet head seated insaid recess forming a continuation of the forward wall of said tube, andmeans disposed between the aforesaid vertical planes for detachablysecuring said jet head to said fuel feed tube, said means including athreaded projection carried by said tube and engaging said jet head, anda threaded member engaging said threaded projection.

7. In a locomotive having a firebox with a firing opening in thebackwall thereof, the combination including a casing secured to saidbackwall, said casing having a top wall extending rearwardly from theupper marginal edge of said firing opening and side walls extendingrearwardly from corresponding side marginal edges of such opening, afuel feed tube communicating with said firing opening and deliveringinto said casing, said fuel feed tube including a forward wall,terminating adjacent the lower marginal edge of said firing opening anda rear wall spaced above the upper edge of the forward wall, the rearmarginal edges of the top and side walls of said casing lying in acommon plane and forming with the upper edge of the feed tube rear walla forwardly and upwardly inclined aperture opposite said firing opening,the forward wall of said feed tube terminating intermediate thetransverse vertical planes passed through the uppermost and lowermostmarginal edges of said aperture, the transverse vertical plane passedthrough the uppermost limit of said aperture passing closely adjacentthe rearward lowermost edge of said firing opening, the side walls ofsaid tube forming continuations of the side walls of said casing andextending beyond said forward wall to form a recess, a pressure jet headseated in said recess forming a continuation of the forward wall of saidtube, and means disposed between the aforesaid vertical planes fordetachably securing said jet head to said fuel feed tube, said meansincluding a threaded projection carried by the forward wall of said tubeclosely adjacent said recess, such threaded projection freely enagingsaid jethead, and a threaded member engaging said threaded projection.

8. In a locomotive having a firebox with a firing opening in thebackwall thereof, the combination including a casing secured to saidbackwall, said casing having a top Wall extending rearwardly from theupper marginal edge of said firing opening and side walls extendingrearwardly from corresponding side marginal edges of such opening, therear, marginal edges of said top and side walls lying in a commoninclined plane spaced from said backwall, a fuel feed tube communicatingwith said firing opening and delivering into said casing, said fuel feedtube including a forward wall terminating adjacent the lower marginaledge of said firing opening and a rear wall spaced above the upper edgeof the forward wall, the rear marginal edges of the top and side wallsof said casing lying in a common plane and forming with the upper edgeof the feed tube rear wall a forwardly and upwardly inclined apertureopposite said firing opening, the forward wall of said feed tubeterminating intermediate the vertical planes passed through theuppermost and lowermost marginal edges of through the uppermost limit ofsaid aperture passing closely adjacent the rearward lower marginaledgeof saidflring opening, the side walls of i said tube formingcontinuations of the side walls of said casing: and extendingbeyond'said said aperture, the transverse vertical 'planepassed' forwardwall tocform a recess, a pressure jet head 9 seated insaid recessforming a continuation of the forward wall of said tube, and verticallydisposed fastening members detachably securing said jet head to saidfuel feed tube, said fastening means being disposed between theaforesaid vertical planes.

9. In combination with a firebox having a wall with a firing openingtherein, a stoker discharge conduit communicating with said firingopening, a pressure fluid jet head secured to .said conduit, adistributing table extending forward of said jet head and having a fuelsupporing upper surface, a flange at the rear of'each side of said tableextending above the fuel supporting surface thereof rearwardly to apoint beyond the lateral limits of said surface, the rearward end of,each flange being provided with a hook member opening downwardly, andmeans providing an upwardly opening hook member at each side of saidconduit, the downwardly opening hook members of said distributing tablebeing adapted to engage the respective upwardly opening hook membersadjacent the sides of said conduit and cooperating to support saiddistributing table in a predetermined relation with said jet head, saidhook members; being engageable with and disengageable from each otherupon downward and upward straight line movement, respectively, of saiddistributing table.

10. As an article of manufacture, a distributing table having a fuelsupporting surface disposed substantially in a horizontal plane whensaid distributing table is in its operative position, and afiangeextending outwardly from each side of said table and at one endthereof to a point above the fuel supporting surface and beyond thelateral limits thereof, each flange being provided with a downwardlyopening hook member in a plane above the fuel supporting surface, saidflanges and fuelsupporting surface defining an upwardly opening channelat one end of said table for constraining fuel therein.

11. In combination with a firebox having a wall with a firing openingtherein, a stoker discharge conduit provided with a mouth portioncommunicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid jet headmounted at the bottom of said mouth portion, a distributing tableforward of said jet head and having a fuel supporting upper surface, aflange at each side of said table extending upwardly and rearwardlyabove the fuel supporting surface thereof, the rearward end of eachflange being provided with a hook member opening downwardly, and meansproviding an upwardly opening hook member at each side of said conduit,the downwardly opening hook members of said distributing tables beingadapted to engage w the respective upwardly opening hook members tablefor astoker having a fuel supporting-surface disposed substantiallyin ahorizontal plane when said distributing table is in its operative!position, and a flange extending upwardly from each side of said tableand at one end thereof defining with said fuel supporting surface an.

upwardly opening channel at' the said end of the table forponstrainingfuel therein, said \a downwardly opening hook member in a plane abovethefuel supporting surface.

E. ARCHER TURNER.

